• Access Highly Accurate Topographic
    and Planimetric Mapping to Improve
    Results and Reduce Costs

Aerial Survey Mapping Services

L3Harris Geospatial offers fully integrated aerial digital topographic mapping services with the ability to take on any project on the North American Continent. With a fleet of distributed aircraft equipped with the newest digital mapping cameras, airborne GPS, and inertial measurement systems, and our staff of experienced photogrammetrists, imaging specialists, programmers, and technicians, L3Harris Geospatial is uniquely qualified to deliver on critical projects -- on-time and on-budget.

Mapping Services to Meet Your Needs

With decades of experience creating products for government and commercial customers, our experienced staff of imagery scientists and analysts will work with you to meet or exceed a wide range of customized requirements within the desired cost, coverage, schedule, and quality constraints of your project.

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  Aerial Services Data Sheet (pdf)

How Can We Help?

AERIAL COLLECTION

Too large for a ground survey? Consider Aerial Mapping Instead!

 

Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements and mapping from digital or hardcopy photographs. Aerial photogrammetry enables the accurate mapping of 3D coordinates on the ground, using 2D coordinates measured on stereo aerial photographs that see the same points on the ground from two or more different perspectives.

Photogrammetry is typically used to create topographic maps which depict the three-dimensional shape and features of the ground onto a two-dimensional surface, and can also be used to produce contour line maps or Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), map corrected aerial imagery, and planimetric feature maps.

Advantages offered by aerial photogrammetry include:

  • Extremely high spatial accuracy achieved using calibrated metric cameras. The precise focal length, principal point coordinates, and various forms of lens distortion are carefully calibrated so that systematic distortions can be accounted for and corrected.
  • Aerial imagery allows users to realistically see the landscape from above and used to resolve disputes that might occur from other technologies. Panchromatic, natural color or color infrared aerial photographs can be acquired from metric film cameras, or multispectral digital imagery can be acquired from digital metric cameras.

From working with aerial companies to produce the most efficient collection flight path, to choosing the appropriate aerial sensor for the task, a dedicated project lead will work with you to define the scope of work and ensure the success of the entire project.


How can we help?

The key to a successful aerial survey is being able to accurately reference the captured aerial imagery to ground control points.

GCPs must be clearly visible in the aerial image data, and we design the layout and placement of control points within the project area so we can ensure that the best coverage and horizontal and vertical accuracy requirements are met. Control is collected for most aerial projects unless otherwise specified.

How can we help?

IMAGE PROCESSING

 

Triangulation

Collected aerial images overlap each other allowing a mathematical (triangulation) solution to provide enough information to create stereo pairs. From these triangulated stereo images the elevation of these pixels can be measured in a stereo viewing environment.

These small footprint stereo pairs with significant overlap can be used to automatically generate 3D mass point terrain data.

  • Stereo control point measurement
  • Highest ground accuracy possible from any aerial sensor

Orthorectification & Orthomosaics

Correcting terrain displacement in imagery caused by off nadir or “sensor tilt” effects not only improves positional accuracy of the imagery, but also enables correct alignment and overlay of current working data. Multiple aerial images are orthorectified, tonally balanced and feather-blended, resulting in a seamless orthomosaic product.

orthorecification

How can we help?

Spatial Resolution of ortho images

Map Scale Equivalent

Horizontal Accuracy (CE90 – Circular Error with 90% Confidence)

0.25 ft.

1:600 (1” = 50’)

1.67 ft.

0.5 ft.

1:1200 (1” = 100’)

3.3 ft.

1.0 ft.

1:2400 (1” = 200’)

6.67 ft.

1.5 ft.

1:4800 (1” = 400’)

13.33 ft.


 

How can we help?

ELEVATION

 

Digital Terrain Models

A Digital Terrain Model (DTM) represents the earth’s surface without objects like vegetation and buildings. Small footprint stereo pairs with significant overlap are used to automatically generate 3D mass point terrain data and the points are edited using triangulated stereo images.

3D breaklines along ridges, roads and any ground features showing a break in the terrain are added to the 3D mass points, resulting in a highly accurate digital terrain model.

  • Highly accurate engineering grade bare earth DTMs from aerial and drone imagery
  • Automated mass point generation and stereo derived breaklines
  • Hydro enforcement and road flattening

Spatial Resolution of Elevation

Map Scale Equivalent

Horizontal Accuracy (CE90 – Circular Error with 90% Confidence)

3D Mass Points

0.25 ft.

1:600 (1” = 50’)

1.5 ft.

3D mass points, 1 – 10 ft. density, and terrain breaklines

0.5 ft.

1:1200 (1” = 100’)

1.0 ft.

3D mass points, 5 – 15 ft. density, and terrain breaklines

1.0 ft.

1:2400 (1” = 200’)

2.0 ft.

3D mass points, 10 – 25 ft. density, and terrain breaklines

1.5 ft.

1:4800 (1” = 400’)

2.5 ft.

 

 

VECTOR DATA

Contour lines are representations of the terrain surface derived from the DTMs.

  • Unmatched accuracy with intervals up to 1 foot.
 

Contour Vertical Interval (where applicable)

Map Scale Equivalent

Vertical Accuracy (LE90 - Linear Error with 90% Confidence)

1.0 ft.

1:600 (1” = 50’)

0.5 ft.

2 ft.

1:1200 (1” = 100’)

1.0 ft.

4.0 ft.

1:2400 (1” = 200’)

2.0 ft.

5.0 ft.

1:4800 (1” = 400’)

2.5 ft.

Contours

How can we help?

Image Science

How can we help?

Planimetric maps show the horizontal position of features like roads, sidewalks, curb lines, bridges, building footprints and other similar construction features. These layers are derived from the stereo pairs and triangulation used to generate an accurate DTM.

Available Planimetric features include:

  • Paved and Unpaved Surfaces
  • Airports (runways, taxiways, aprons, helipads)
  • Railroads
  • Manmade Structures
  • Water Features
  • Water Structures (bridges, dams, etc)
  • Barriers
  • Utilities
  • Disturbed areas (construction sites, mines, quarries, etc)
  • Landmark features
  • Street hardware (signs, billboards, bus stop shelters)
  • Vegetation (trees, orchards/nurseries, crops)

 
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